TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Apr 7, 2020, 20: 43 IST
NEW DELHI: The Central government is mulling extending the nationwide lockdown beyond April 14 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic following requests from several states and experts, government sources said. Meanwhile, the death toll in the country due to coronavirus rose to 124 and the number of cases climbed to 4,789, registering an increase of 508 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Union health ministry.
Here are the top developments:
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India
- Joint Secretary in the Union health ministry Lav Aggarwal said, “No decision on extending lockdown as yet (taken), please don’t speculate.”
- India has decided to partially lift a ban on export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, paving the way for its supply to the US and several other countries hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
- An ICMR study has found that a COVID-19 patient can infect 406 people in 30 days if preventive measures such as lockdown and social distancing are not implemented, the Union health ministry said.
- Union home minister Amit Shah has directed the authorities to take appropriate steps in coordination with state governments to prevent hoarding and black marketing of commodities during the 21-day lockdown.
- Railway subsidiary IRCTC which runs three private trains in the country has decided to suspend their services till April 30.
- Over 22,000 government-run relief camps are functional in 578 districts of the country to provide shelter and food to needy citizens during 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb spread of COVID-19, the Centre informed the Supreme Court.
- Over 10,500 public grievances related to coronavirus have been received by the central government and instructions have been issued to all departments to ensur